Grapevine (Sheegene-12)

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct variety characterized by a dark red-colored, medium sized seedless grape that ripens in early August approximately two weeks later than the Flame Seedless Grape (unpatented) when grown in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. The grapes of this variety are produced on strong woody stem and branches and are well adapted to commercial handling.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The claimed plant is not subject of a related application.

STATEMENT OF ANY FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The claimed plant is not subject of Federally-sponsored research ordevelopment.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENIUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

The claimed plant relates to a new and distinct variety of Vitisvinifera to be known as ‘Sheegene-12’.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

This invention relates to a new discovery and asexual reproduction of anew variety of Vitis vinifera. The new variety was first hybridized byTimothy P. Sheehan of Porterville, Calif. in late Spring 2000; firstflowering occurred in May 2003. The pollen parent is Princess(unpatented) and the seed parent is Red Globe (U.S. Plant Pat. No.4,787). The new variety was asexually propagated in the dormant seasonof 2003/2004, bud grafted on Harmony, virus-free rootstock, in a Vitisvinifera variety block located near Fowler, Calif. on the west side ofThompson Road, north of Adams Road. The dark red-colored seedless grapesproduced by the new variety are medium in size and mature approximatelytwo weeks later then Flame Seedless (unpatented). The new variety hasbeen shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics throughasexual propagation.

The new variety is distinguished from its pollen parent, Princess(unpatented), in that the new variety produces dark red-colored seedlessgrapes, as compared to the white-colored grapes produced by the pollenparent, Princess (unpatented). The new variety is distinguished from itsseed parent, Red Globe (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,787), in that the newvariety produces seedless grapes, as compared to its seed parent RedGlobe (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,787), that produces seeded grapes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of grapewhich will hereinafter be denominated as ‘Sheegene-12’ and moreparticularly as a grapevine which produces a dark red-colored seedlesstable grape that matures in early August in the San Joaquin Valley ofCentral California. The new invention most closely resembles FlameSeedless (unpatented) but it produces a dark red-colored medium sizegrape that is sweet, has very good flavor, and matures at least twoweeks later.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘Sheegene-12’ grapevine is characterized by producing a mediumsized, dark red-colored seedless grape with very good flavor that ismature for harvesting and shipment in early August in the San Joaquinvalley of Central California. The new variety can be compared to FlameSeedless (unpatented) but the grapes mature at least two weeks later,among other distinguishing characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing is a colored photograph of the grapes producedby the subject variety; several leaves are displayed as well as atypical section of the vine. Across the top of the color photograph oneach side are secondary growth clusters; and in the center is a shootwith leaves and tendrils. Across the middle of the color photograph onthe left is a mature grape cluster; and to the right is a mature leafdisplaying the bottom surface and petiole. Below the mature grapecluster are four grapes cut in half longitudinally as well ashorizontally displaying the flesh and shape. Across the bottom of thecolor photograph to the left is a mature leaf displaying the topside ofleaf and petioles; and to the right is a mature cane displayingtendrils, nodes, and small leaves.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Referring more to the horticultural description of the new and distinctvariety of grapevine, the following has been observed under theecological conditions prevailing at the origin vineyard that is locatedeast of Fowler, Calif. in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

All major color descriptions are by reference to the Dictionary of Colorby Maerz and Paul, First Edition, published in 1930. Common color namesare also used in several instances.

-   Vine:    -   -   Size.—5 feet (1.52 meters) in height, 31 to 36 inches (78.74            to 91.44 cm) in width.        -   Vigor.—Very good.        -   Chilling requirements.—Normal for grapevines in the San            Joaquin Valley of Central California.        -   Figure.—Wide cordons forming a “T” shaped figure.        -   Production capacity.—Very good.        -   Regularity of bearing.—Regular.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium to large; 8-½ inches in circumference (21.59            cm); 27 inches (68.58 cm) above graft.        -   Surface texture.—Rough, shaggy.        -   Color of bark.—Pl.7 H7 Cedar +.        -   Mature cane color.—Pl.7 I8 Domingo.        -   Nodes.—Five on canes, 20-⅜ inches (51.75 cm) in length.        -   Length between nodes.—3-½ to 4-½ inches (8.89 to 11.43 cm).        -   Lenticel number.—0.        -   Lenticel size.—0.        -   Shoot contour.—Droopy.        -   Tendril number.—One at node.        -   Tendril length.—2.36 to 5.82 inches (6 to 13-½ cm).        -   Tendril location.—At nodes.        -   Tendril form.—Bifurcate.        -   Tendril texture.—Firm, woody.        -   Bud shape.—Triangular.        -   Bud size.—0.35 inches (9 mm) in width; 0.35 inches (9 mm) in            length.        -   Bud break date.—N/A.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Medium to large; 7 inches (17.78 cm) in circumference.        -   Surface texture.—Slightly rough.        -   Color (one year older wood): Pl. 17 I7 Laurel Oak.        -   Surface texture (mature canes).—Smooth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Medium to large.        -   Density.—Dense.        -   Average length.—4.92 to 5.59 inches (12.5 to 14.2 cm).        -   Average width.—6.89 to 7.28 inches (17.5-18.5 cm).        -   Texture.—Upper surface is smooth; lower surface is glabrous.        -   Color (upward disposed surface).—Pl.23 J8—Mt. Vernon Green.        -   Color (downward disposed surface).—Pl.20 K7 Near Piquant            Green.        -   Color (leaf vein).—Pl.17 L7 Viridine Y.        -   Marginal form.—Generally slightly undulate.        -   Leaf vein (thickness).—0.079 inches (2 mm).        -   Leaf margin.—Toothed.        -   Glandular characteristics.—0.        -   Petiole size.—Large.        -   Petiole length.—4.84 to 5.31 inches (12.3 to 13.5 cm).        -   Petiole thickness.—0.12 to 0.197 inches (3 to 5 mm).        -   Petiole color.—Downwardly disposed surface, Pl.20 L5 Lettuce            Green; upwardly disposed surface, Pl.7 L6 India Red, Arabian            Red and Red Robin.        -   Petiole sinus form.—Reverse “U” shape.        -   Stem gland form.—0.        -   Stem gland position.—0.        -   Stem gland pattern.—0.        -   Lobe average.—Four.        -   Tooth size.—0.47 to 0.51 inches (12 to 13 mm) in width; 0.28            to 0.31 inches (7 to 8 mm) in length).inches (7 to 8 mm) in            length.        -   Tooth number).—Four large between lobes.        -   Tooth shape.—Triangular.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Size.—Cluster is 6 to 7 inches (15.24 to 17.78 cm) in            length.        -   Number borne per spur.—Two.        -   Number borne per vine.—20 to 24.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower buds (size).—Small.        -   Flower buds (surface).—Glabrous.        -   Flower buds (quantity).—Moderate.        -   Date of bloom.—Apr. 27, 2007.        -   Date of full bloom.—May 7, 2007.        -   Size of bloom.—0.12 inches (3 mm).        -   Petal color.—Pl. 20 L9—Eden green.        -   Petal size.—0.08 inches (2 mm).        -   Pistil color.—Pl. 17 L7—Viridine y.        -   Amount of pollen.—Not available.        -   Date of first visible berries.—May 7, 2007.-   Fruit:    -   -   Seeds.—None.        -   Cap stem pedicel.—0.24 to 0.31 inches (6 to 8 mm).        -   Berry weight.—8.52 grams.        -   Juice color.—Pl.13 L5 Bistro Green.        -   Cluster size.—Medium to large.        -   Cluster average weight.—511.2 to 710 grams (1 lb. 2 oz. to 1            lb. 9 oz.).        -   Cluster average length without stem.—8.66 to 10.04 inches            (22 to 25 cm).        -   Cluster average width.—5.31 to 5.91 inches (13.5 to 15 cm).        -   Cluster form.—Conical.        -   Stem.—Generally variable; 1.81 to 1.97 inches (4.6 to 5 cm).        -   Stem caliper.—0.197 inches (5 mm).        -   Berry size.—Medium to large.        -   Berry size (average dimension along longitudinal axis).—0.79            to 0.98 inches (20 to 25 mm).        -   Berry size (average dimension along transverse axis).—0.75            to 0.87 inches (19 to 22 mm).        -   Berry shape.—Ovate.        -   Berry number.—60 to 84 berries per bunch.-   Flesh:    -   -   Flesh color.—Pl.13 L7 Tinsel Deepstone.        -   Juice production.—Very good.        -   Flavor.—Very good.        -   Aroma.—Mild.        -   Texture.—Firm.        -   Ripening.—Even.        -   Eating quality.—Very good.-   Skin:    -   -   Skin thickness.—Medium.        -   Texture.—Tough.        -   Blush color.—From Pl.55 L8 Rubient to Pl.56 E8 Burgundy.        -   Ground color.—Pl.13 L7 Tinsel Deepstone.        -   Lenticel.—0.        -   Use.—Fresh Market.        -   Keeping quality.—Unknown.        -   Resistance to disease.—None observed.        -   Harvesting and shipment.—Early August in the San Joaquin            Valley of Central California.        -   Shipping and handling quality.—Moderate.U.S.D.A. Hardiness            Zone: Zones 8 and 9.

1. A new variety of grapevine to be known as ‘Sheegene-12’,substantially as illustrated and described, characterized principally byits production of dark red-colored, medium sized seedless grapes, thatmature approximately two weeks later in the season of ripening than doesthe Flame Seedless Grape(unpatented) which it closely resembles.